February 2002

Kenny McKinstry has taken his maiden victory on Rallye Sunseeker, having led the opening round of the Kumho National Rally Championship from start to finish in his Subaru Impreza. Following Marcus Dodd's decision not to contest the rally, McKinstry - co-driven by Noel Orr - set about keeping the opposition at bay and, after sixteen special stages, arrived back in Bournemouth almost half a minute in front of runner-up David Mann in another Subaru.

Wyedean Stages Rally winner Mark Perrott eventually took third in his Escort World Rally Car - he had been up to third during the morning but an 'off' on a subsequent stage cost almost a minute and a half. However, a superb charge back up the leaderboard saw him take the final podium spot.

Steve Hill, who won the National Championship Group N title twice in the early '90s, took fourth place in his Mitsubishi Lancer, ahead of the Hyundai Accent WRC of Steve Petch.

The Group N 'production' category, and 10th overall, went to Jeremy Easson in his new Mitsubishi Lancer EVO7 who also won the first round of the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge. Next up was the Subaru of Dave Wood, with Andrew Haddon's Lancer third.

Formula 2 was a close fought affair with Paul Jones in his Peugeot 106, finishing just ahead of the Proton Satria of Ian Barrett. Skoda UK used Rallye Sunseeker to give their Group N Fabia its world debut - Iain Freestone and Nick Kennedy were leading their class before a driveshaft broke on the sixth stage, heralding retirement. However, they will be contesting the full Kumho National Championship as a development exercise and will be out again on the Astra Stages in April.

Among those who were destined not to make the finish were 1998 Sunseeker winners Roger Duckworth/Mark Broomfield who were having a torrid time before their Subaru Impreza's clutch gave up the ghost. Andy Burton's hybrid Peugeot Cosworth departed the fray with engine trouble and Poole resident Steve Hendy inverted his Escort Cosworth in front of his 'home' crowd in Avon Park - fortunately with little damage to car or crew!

Of the 92 starters, 59 cars completed the route in front of record numbers of spectators. Regular visitors to Rallye Sunseeker said they had never seen so many people on the stages and how, following the 'Foot & Mouth' devastated season in 2001, it augurs well for the rest of the year.